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Solar Decathlon 2013: Let the Building Begin

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Day 7 Construction

During the 7th day of construction, the Solar Decathlon village has started to take shape. The houses open to the public on October 3, 2013 at 11 am.

Image: Stefano Paltera, Energy Department

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Day 7 Construction

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte team members assemble their Solar Decathlon entry.

Image: Eric Grigorian, Energy Department

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Day 7 Construction

Kevin Davis, of West Virginia University, fills his house’s water tank while team members discuss a potential problem. Water was delivered to all team houses today.

Image: Amy Vaughn, Energy Department

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Day 6 Construction

Sarah McGrath-Deneault from The University of Southern California works on the team's green wall with plants native to Southern California.

Image: Stefano Paltera, Energy Department

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Day 6 Construction

Felipe Pincheira, a student from Stanford University, cleans the solar panels atop the team's Solar Decathlon entry in Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California.

Image: Stefano Paltera, Energy Department

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Day 5 Construction

Native desert plants surround the construction site of the Arizona State University and The University of New Mexico house for the Solar Decathlon competition. Called SHADE (Solar Homes Adapting for Desert Equilibrium), the house’s landscape will include a hummingbird and butterfly garden.

Image: Carol Anna, Energy Department

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Day 5 Construction

Team members from Missouri University of Science and Technology construct Chameleon House, the university's fifth competition house. Past houses are installed in a village on the MS&T campus, where students can live and educate the local community about the benefits of sustainable living.

Image: Carol Anna, Energy Department

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Day 4 Construction

A member of Team Ontario (Queen’s University, Carleton University, and Algonquin College) works on the sloped exostructure of the team’s competition house. This structure will hold the house’s photovoltaic array and solar thermal systems while maximizing the benefits of passive shading.

Image: Carol Anna, Energy Department

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Day 3 Contstruction

Vienna University of Technology team members construct their Solar Decathlon competition house, Living Inspired by Sustainable Innovation (LISI), on Day 3 of assembly at the Orange County Great Park.

Image: Carol Anna, Energy Department

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Day 3 Construction

By Wednesday afternoon, team Kentucky/Indiana had its house sections unloaded and in place.

Image: Richard King, Energy Department

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Day 3 Construction

Decathletes from Arizona State University and The University of New Mexico work on the independent solar canopy structure of their house. The canopy will be covered with photovoltaic panels to provide both electricity and shade.

Image: Carol Anna, Energy Department

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Day 2 Construction

Students from Southern California Institute of Architecture and California Institute of Technology are using a PV system to power all their electricity needs during assembly. Their goal is to be completely renewable, including during construction on the competition site.

Image: Richard King, Energy Department

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Day 2 Construction

The Missouri University of Science and Technology team takes a break from the heat in the shade of a construction vehicle.

Image: Amy Vaughn, Energy Department

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Day 2 Construction

Norwich University decathletes cut siding for the façade of their Solar Decathlon house.

Image: Amy Vaughn, Energy Department

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Day 2 Construction

Captured in this photo is the construction of Middlebury College's house. The team is lifting a super insulated ceiling section into place.

Image: Richard King, Energy Department

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Day 1 Construction

Collegiate teams head to their lots to begin construction at the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013.

Image: Amy Vaughn, Energy Department

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Day 1 Construction

Team members from Middlebury College and University of Louisville, Ball State University, and University of Kentucky warm up with a Sun Salutation while waiting to begin construction at the Solar Decathlon 2013 competition site.

Image: Amy Vaughn, Energy Department

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Day 1 Construction

Solar decathletes get a running start to begin the assembly for their Solar Decathlon houses. Teams only have nine days to get their houses ready for the 10-contest competition.

Image: Amy Vaughn, Energy Department

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Day 1 Construction

A collegiate team member surveys microgrid equipment that will be used to power their Solar Decathlon house. Once teams have passed the necessary inspections, their houses will be connected to the village grid for the remaining part of the assembly period and the competition.

Image: Amy Vaughn, Energy Department

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Day 1 Construction

Cranes abound during the first day of assembly -- September 23, 2013 -- at the Orange County Great Park, Irvine, California.

Image: Richard King, Energy Department

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Day 1 Construction

Team Capitol DC is positioning one of its modules on the competition site. After Solar Decathlon, Team Capitol DC will donate its house to Wounded Warriors Homes, a nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing for returning U.S. military veterans who are transitioning from active-duty military service.

Image: Richard King, Energy Department

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Day 1 Construction

By the end of the first day, the team from Santa Clara University had all of its main house modules in place, as seen in this picture.